BLACKPINK fans are voicing frustration after some attendees at the group’s recent concert were sold seats with zero visibility of the stage.
On Sunday, social media and online forums lit up with criticism over the seating arrangements at BLACKPINK’s DEADLINE World Tour stop, held the previous evening at Goyang Stadium in South Korea.
The issue centered on sections N3, N8, and N9, located on the second and third tiers, directly opposite the stage. These seats were situated behind a large sound and lighting console, which entirely blocked the view of the stage.
To make matters worse, a large screen was installed behind the console, meant to improve visibility, but it ended up further obstructing the audience’s line of sight. Fans in these sections reported being unable to see any part of the performance.
Premium Pricing for B Seats With No View
What fueled fan outrage even more was the pricing. These obstructed seats were sold as standard B seats, not as restricted-view tickets, and were priced at 132,000 KRW (about 96 USD). That’s roughly $24 more than officially designated restricted-view seats, which cost 99,000 KRW (about 72 USD).
In most large-scale concerts, industry norms discourage selling seats located behind the sound console, or, at most, only the highest rows in such sections are opened. Despite this, YG Entertainment made both the second and third tiers fully available to fans. When visibility worsened due to a canopy over the console, organizers installed a screen, which ultimately exacerbated the issue.
While the ticketing site included a standard disclaimer warning that “some seats may have restricted views due to stage setup, equipment, or camera placement,” there was no specific notice about these B seats having completely blocked views.
“No-View Seats”? Fans Call for Refunds
Outrage grew online as fans expressed disappointment, with comments like: “These aren’t obstructed-view seats, they’re no-view seats,” and “How could they not disclose this?” “Did we come to see the stage or just a giant piece of equipment?” “This definitely warrants a refund,” “We paid to watch a screen that blocked the entire performance.”
To make matters worse, the ticketing policy explicitly stated that tickets could not be refunded or exchanged due to sightline issues on the day of the show, leaving many fans feeling misled and ignored.
Expectations were sky-high for BLACKPINK’s long-awaited return as a whole group, marking its first concert together in nearly two years. Demand for tickets was so intense that the show sold out immediately, including all restricted-view seats.
The performance itself was a spectacle: a two-hour set featuring fan-favorite hits, solo performances from each member, and the live debut of its brand-new track, “JUMP.” But the excitement was undercut for many by the poor handling of ticket sales and seating arrangements.
According to industry analytics firm Touring Data, BLACKPINK’s 2023 Born Pink tour grossed roughly 437.6 billion KRW (about 320 million USD) across 66 shows, setting records for K-pop girl groups worldwide.
Now, the group has launched its DEADLINE world tour, kicking off in Goyang and continuing to 16 stadiums across the globe, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, New York, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, London, Kaohsiung, Bangkok, Jakarta, Bulacan, Singapore, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, for a total of 31 scheduled shows.
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